Looking for a fun way to support Wisconsin farmers and the state’s farm-to-institution activities? Then sign up now for the fourth annual Wisconsin Chili Lunch, taking place at noon on Thursday, February 24, 2022. The event involves tens of thousands of bowls of chili full of Wisconsin grown ingredients served at schools, early care sites, colleges, and hospitals across the state.
It’s simple and easy to participate: register for free at cias.wisc.edu/our-events/chililunch/, purchase local ingredients, and make your Wisconsin Chili Lunch on February 24. Participants are encouraged to take photos of their Wisconsin Chili Lunch and share them on social media, and with their school and community.
After registering, participants will receive a copy of the “Wisconsin Chili Lunch Guide” with tools to find Wisconsin ingredients, tasty chili and side dish recipes, and social media tips. For teachers, the guide also includes student lesson plans listed by age group.
“It’s always exciting to watch schools and other institutions around Wisconsin host their chili lunches and make them their own. Some schools have longstanding farm-to-school programs, but we continue to see more schools trying local food purchasing for the first time,” notes Cathryn Herlihey, Wisconsin Chili Lunch Coordinator at the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “A great aspect of this event is that it allows participants to buy as many local ingredients as suits them to make their unique Wisconsin Chili Lunch.”
The Wisconsin Chili Lunch is a project of the La Crosse County Health Department, Coulee Farm2School, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at UW–Madison, and partners. For more information, visit cias.wisc.edu/our-events/chililunch/ or connect on Facebook (@WIChiliLunch). Growers or distributors interested in farm-to-institution opportunities are encouraged to visit cias.wisc.edu/our-events/chililunch/.
